Pneumatic tire.



W. B. HARTRIDGE.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1908.

962,897. w Patented June 28, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented June 28, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 24 APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 22, 1908. 962,897.

W. B. HARTRIDGB. PNEUMATIC TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1908.

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1 a \Y\ j 7 0 F w ow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BAKER HAR'IRIDGE, OF SEAFORD, ENGLAND.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 22, 1908.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLmM BAKER Hanrrzmon, a subject of the King ofEngland, residing at Seaford, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in or Relating to Pneumatic Tires, of which thefollowing is a specification This invention relates to pneumatic tireswhich have floating supporting rigid metal rings used in the mannerhereinafter described.

According to this invention a pneumatic tire has one or more floatingrigid flanges or rings secured to each side of the cover; the rings maybe secured to the cover and to one another in any desired manner, butthose on one side of the cover have no rigid connection with those onthe other. By the term floating ring I mean that the ring is secured tothe tire-cover only and not to any rigid portion of the wheel itself andis therefore free to move independently of the wheel felly. It is notrestrained in any way by or in contact with the felly of the wheel.

An air-tube of ordinary type is used with tires constructed according tothis invention, and the tire may be adapted to fit on to any rim ofknown type, preferably of the clencher type. The rim is preferably of astandard size to facilitate interchangeability of tires.

Other features of this invention will be evident from the followingdescription, to gether with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a cross-section through the tire, having in this case two rings ateach side; Fig. 2 a cross-section of the tire illustrating amodification. Fig. 8 is a cross-section of another tire and illustratesa further modification.

Referring first to Fig. 1, A is the telly of the wheel. It is providedwith two rings A and A of the shape shown and with a bed ring A thethree rings forming a rim of the clencher type. The distance between therings A and A may be adjusted by the insertion or removal of one or morerings such as A The rings A and A are secured to the felly and to eachother by bolts A disposed around the wheel. These features, however, donot form part of the present invention.

Each of the lower or wall portions B of the tire comprises the beadededge B adapted to engage with the rim, the portion B Patented June 28,1910.

Serial No. 449,770.

shaped as shown, and the middle portion B" which is straight incross-section, for a reason which will be hereinafter described.

On each of the sides of the portion B are floating stiffening rigidmetal rings C and C the ring C being placed internally, and both ringsbeing seem-ed, preferably by bolts or bolts or rivets C passing throughthe portion B and each of the rings. The edge of the port-ion B beingthickened as shown, assists the rivets C in retaining the wall portionbetween the two rings.

The upper or tread portion D of the tire comprises the tread proper Dand an extension D on each side adapted to fitbetween the two rings C onthe two portions B of the tire. The edge D of the portion D isstrengthened and thickened as shown, or it may have an inextensible wirein it, and it has preferably a corner 1D fitting against the ring C toassistin retaining the tread in position. The outside surface of thetread may be provided with grooves or the like to increase its grip uponthe road, as will be well understood.

lVhen the tire is inflated, the pressure of the air tends to separatethe wall portions 13 with the stiffening rings secured thereto, but theportions B of the walls being straightand practically inextensible andthe walls B being anchored at B, counteract this tendency and retain thestiffening rings in their place.

The edges of the rings C and C may be rounded wherever desired, to avoidcutting the flexible portions of the tire.

To prevent creeping of the tread relatively to the walls, the rivets orbolts C may be extended inward to engage with holes in the portion D ofthe tread; as shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

In the modified form of tire shown in Fig. 2 the wall portions B arefixed to the felly by being brought down at the sides thereof andclamped thereto by bolts A pressing upon rings A. The inextensible edgeI) is in this case in the form of a wire.

In the modified form of tire shown 1.. Fig. 3 the tread portion D andthe wall portion B are combined into one complete outer cover G. Therings C and C are fixed on this cover so as to be in the same positionand act in the same way as before.

In applying to the rim the tire shown in Fig. l the procedure adopted isas follows :()ne of the rings A or A is removed, and one of the wallportions B is applied with its beaded edge 13 to engage the other ring Aor A The air tube having been inserted in the tread portion D, thisportion is applied in position and the remaining wall portion B isplaced against it, the ring A or A which was removed is then replacedand secured in position by the bolt A The procedure adopted in applyingthe form of tire shown in Fig. 2 to the rim is similar, except that thewall portions B instead of having their edges B engaged with the rings Aor A are clamped between the telly and one of the rings A The form oftire shown in Fig. 3 may be so constructed that it can be applied to therim just like an ordinary tire, or one of the rings A A may be taken offas before.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l.A pneumatic tire of the clencher type, having rim-engaging portions, anda stiffening ring adjacent each rim-engaging portion, that portion ofthe tire between each rimengaging portion and the adjacent stiffeningring being disposed to receive longitudinal stress when the tire isinflated, substantially as described.

2. In a pneumatic tire the combination with a flexible wall of twofloating rings secured one to each side of the wall by local fasteningswhich do not extend through the tire to the other side.

3. In a pneumatic tire the combination with a tread portion of separatewalls provided wit-h ring-supports secured one on each side of the wallby local fastenings which do not extend through the tire to the otherside.

4:. In a pneumatic tire the combination with a tread portion havingstiffening or inextensible edges of separate flexible stiffened wallsand having beaded edges substantially as described.

5. A pneumatic clencher tire, having a rim engaging portion and astiffening ring on each side of the tire and secured to the rim engagingportions, said stiffening rings being interposed between the side wallsof the tread and the respective rim engaging portions to preventseparation of the sides of the tire when inflated; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

l/VILLIAM BAKER HART RIDGE.

WVitnesses:

WM. JNO. TENNANT, HARRY B. BRIDGE.

